Palm Beach State to get $6 million from state for campus in Loxahatchee Groves
Palm Beach State College will get $6 million from the Florida Legislature this year toward construction of the first building on its new campus in Loxahatchee Groves.
Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $68.9 million in the state’s 2014-2015 budget before signing the $77 billion spending plan into law today. However, he kept in the new budget funding for Palm Beach State’s fifth campus approved by legislators.
The campus will be constructed on 75 acres at the northwest corner of Southern Boulevard and B Road. The site, which includes over 1,000 feet of frontage on Southern Boulevard, will provide convenient access to educational services for residents in Loxahatchee Groves, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Loxahatchee and The Acreage.
“Current and future residents of central-western Palm Beach County will benefit tremendously from having a Palm Beach State College campus in their community,” said Dr. Dennis P. Gallon, Palm Beach State College president. “We are very grateful to Gov. Rick Scott, our legislative delegation and our Board of Trustees for their support. With this allocation, we are preparing to begin construction this fall on the first building.”
The Palm Beach State College District Board of Trustees voted last October to spend up to $4 million for architectural design, infrastructure and site work that is already underway. It also approved the educational specifications for the entire first phase of the campus. In addition to architectural design, site paving, drainage and utility infrastructure, the first phase will include a three-story, 50,000–square-foot multi-purpose classroom administration building. The $6 million in state funds, in addition to the local funds and partner contributions, will cover much of the total cost of the first phase, estimated at $20 million to $25 million.
Palm Beach State College finalized the purchase of the 75 acres for the campus in October 2012 after considering several locations. It has received all of the necessary land-use approvals from the Loxahatchee Groves Town Council.
